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Bluenose - Her First Race

Pictures from her first race

After her successful first season on the Grand Banks as a fishing schooner (one of the requirements to participate in the International Fishermans Cup), Bluenose, under Captain Angus Walters was ready for the 1921 Nova Scotia Elimination Trials, held off Halifax in October. It competed against the schooners Independence, J. Duffy, Canadia, Alcala, Ada R. Corkum, Donald J. Cook and Delawana, all from Lunenburg, LaHave or Shelburne—and won both Elimination Races easily, thereby becoming the challenger against the American entry in the International Fishermans Cup race.

The initial American winner that year had been the Mayflower, a Boston-based vessel. However, the schooner wass disqualified when the race committee decided that Mayflower was technically a schooner-yacht rather than a dedicated Grand Banks fishing schooner. So, the Americans quickly held another elimination contest, from which the Gloucester schooner Elsie emerged the winner.

The first race between Bluenose and Elsie was held on 22 October 1921, with Bluenose winning easily. The second race was held two days later, and once again Bluenose reached the finish line first, more than three miles ahead of Elsie. There was no question about it—under Captain Angus Walters and in one brief season, Bluenose was established as the frisky new championship schooner. In fact she remained the champion for her entire 18 year career, retiring undefeated.

The following are some pictures of the various ships that the Bluenose defeated in both the elimination trials and the Elsie.

All photos are from the Nova Scotia Archives available for viewing online.